Building-block.



(N0 Intim.)

A. J. DELKE.

Patented 0ct BUILDING BLOCK.'

(Application led Apr. 30, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW J. DELKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUILDING-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,419, dated October 23, 1900.

Application tiled April 30, 1900. Serial N0- 141959- (NO modem others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. v

This invention relates to improvements in bricks or blocks to be used in the Vvconstruction of sewers and conduits. The form of 'brick shown may also be used for similar construction where arched, cylindrical, or semicircular work is required.

The principal object is to facilitate the construction of sewers by saving much time and labor and greatly lessening the cost of construction. Under the usual arrangement sewers and like structures are built of ordi nary brick and cement. The form of the ordinary bricks does not adapt them to make close-fitting end joints in building a cylindrical structure or sewer such as shown in the drawings.

Another Objectis to make a much more durable structure by making the bricks of a shape conforming to the curvature of the structure, thus making closer-fitting joints and requiring less cement.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an end elevation of a structure embodying the improved features. Fig. 2 is a brokenaway longitudinal section on line 2, Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a View in perspective of a segment-brick.

The bricks A for the lower half of the sewer are made of the curved segmental form shown in Figs. l and 3, so as to form segments of a circle in laying the same up together in courses. Ordinarily these bricks will be of the following dimensions-say from one to fivefeet in length, in accordance with the diameter of the circle, eight to twenty inches in depth, and four to six inches in Width or thickness-and are laid transversely to the line of aXis.

The segment-bricks are cut away from the top edge downwardly a little way, as at ct, and

the respective corners to agreater depth, as

shown at o', Fig. 3. When the bricks are laid together, a recess or groove is formed between each course, which is filled with cement and forms a water-tight joint, so that water cannot back up through the bottom of the sewer or leak'through from the inside. Thus the brick sections composing the bottom part of the structure lay up closely together and yet haveacement joint. This will prevent fraud= ulent practices, as inspection will show whether a sufficient quantityl of cement has been used or not.

Under the usual arrangement in construct- -ing sewers and the like with ordinary bricks it is often impossible to tell from a close inspection whether the bricks were properly laid and the required amount of cement used.

b indicates the cement. The upper half or top of the sewer is com posed of straight bricks B, laid lengthwise with reference to the longitudinal dimensions of the structure and at right angles to the segmental bricks forming the lower bottom part. The bricks B will be of a length and thickness best adapted to the particular purpose for which they are to be used and of a much greater length than the ordinary kind and will narrow or taper, as at d, from the thicker outer side to the inner edge-that is, slightly wedge-shaped-so as to conform to the curvature of a circle and arch into place.

Usually the length of the arch-brick will be equa-1 to a number,.of course, of the segmentbricks, so-as to overlap and have a binding action in holding the lower part of the structure more firmly together,and therebygreatly increase the durability of the same and also greatly lessening the possibility of caving in.

The bricks may be made of any suitable material-such as clay, shale, and the likedprepared in the usual manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As au improved article, a segmental or curved brick, having its respective sides and corners cut away downwardly, but stopping short of the lower edge, to provide cementholding recesses -between courses, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW J. DELKE. Witnesses:

L. M. FREEMAN, L. B. COUPLAND.

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